Frontiers of Identity: The British and the Others

This book explores how the British identity is shaped and maintained through interactions with various "frontiers of identity," such as Celts, expatriates, Americans, Europeans, and citizens of the Commonwealth, as well as with "aliens." It examines the uneasiness, aversion, and hostility that arise from these interactions and how the meaning of who one is depends on who one rejects. Drawing on historical scholarship, research, and contemporary social theory, the book exposes the unstated assumptions and hidden meanings in the relationship between the "British" and "the others" and how the British and their rulers seek to reshape their national identity in a period of post-imperial adjustment, relative economic decline, and European integration.

Format: Hardback
Length: 244 pages
Publication date: 01 February 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Originally published in 1994, this book delves into one of the enduring themes of social science: the formation and sustenance of national identity. It explores how identity changes over time, who is included in the body politic, and who is socially excluded. The author examines how the established population, opinion-makers, and politicians react to marginalized groups, such as long-spurned minorities and recent migrants.

This original analysis demonstrates how the British people are constantly defined and redefined through their interactions with various "frontiers of identity," including Celts, expatriates, Americans, Europeans, citizens of the Commonwealth, and, most notably, "aliens." The alien-British relationship is particularly fraught with unease, aversion, and hostility. "Aliens," as the author describes them, are a category created by the "frontier guards of British identity." They are frequently deported or detained, their sanctuaries invaded, their legal and humanitarian claims for asylum meticulously examined, and often denied.

This searching exploration of these processes reveals how the meaning of one's identity depends crucially on who one rejects. Drawing on a wealth of historical scholarship, research compiled at the time of the original publication, and contemporary social theory, this book exposes the unstated assumptions and hidden meanings in the relationship between the "British" and "the others." It uncovers how the British and their rulers seek to reshape their national identity in a challenging period of post-imperial adjustment, relative economic decline, and the European integration of the 1990s.

This book will be of use to students of sociology, politics, history, and European studies.

Weight: 620g
Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032626598